Birth

:

December 4, 1887 in Valencia, Spain

Death

:

May 14, 1960 in New York City, NY

Period

:

Romantic

Genre

:

Opera

 

Lucrezia Bori was a Spanish-born opera singer who became one of the most celebrated sopranos of the early 20th century. Born on December 24, 1887, in Valencia, Spain, Bori was the daughter of a musician and began singing at a young age. She made her professional debut at the age of 15 in Madrid, and soon after, she was discovered by the famous Italian tenor Enrico Caruso, who invited her to perform with him at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City. Bori made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera in 1912, at the age of 24, in the role of Mimi in Puccini's "La Bohème." Her performance was a huge success, and she quickly became one of the most popular singers at the Met. Over the course of her career, Bori performed in more than 300 performances at the Met, singing a wide range of roles in operas by composers such as Mozart, Verdi, and Puccini. One of Bori's most famous roles was that of Juliette in Gounod's "Roméo et Juliette." She first performed the role at the Met in 1917, and it became one of her signature roles. Bori's performance as Juliette was praised for its beauty, grace, and emotional depth, and it helped to establish her as one of the leading sopranos of her time. In addition to her performances at the Met, Bori also performed in other major opera houses around the world, including the Royal Opera House in London, the Paris Opera, and the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires. She was also a frequent performer at the Salzburg Festival in Austria, where she worked with the famous conductor Arturo Toscanini. Throughout her career, Bori received numerous awards and honors for her singing. In 1924, she was awarded the Légion d'honneur by the French government for her contributions to the arts. She was also awarded the Order of Isabella the Catholic by the Spanish government in 1929. In 1936, she was awarded the Gold Medal of the City of New York for her contributions to the arts in the city. Bori continued to perform well into her 60s, and she retired from the stage in 1946, at the age of 59. After her retirement, she remained active in the music world, serving as a judge for various singing competitions and teaching voice lessons. She also made occasional appearances on radio and television programs. Lucrezia Bori died on May 14, 1960, at the age of 72. She was remembered as one of the greatest sopranos of her time, and her legacy continues to inspire new generations of opera singers.

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